Last chance to protest Bill C-32

Ever rip a DVD to put on your iPad or media server? How about unlocking your phone to move to another carrier? If this bill passes, all that will be illegal and more.

This all hinges on the implementation of digital locks, and the media corporations' insistence that even owning circumvention tools should be a criminal act in Canada.

From Michael Geist:
"The foundational principle of the new bill remains that anytime a digital lock is used - whether on books, movies, music, or electronic devices - the lock trumps virtually all other rights. In other words, in the battle between two sets of property rights - those of the intellectual property rights holder and those of the consumer who has purchased the tangible or intangible property - the IP rights holder always wins. This represents market intervention for a particular business model by a government supposedly committed to the free market and it means that the existing fair dealing rights (including research, private study, news reporting, criticism, and review) and the proposed new rights (parody, satire, education, time shifting, format shifting, backup copies) all cease to function effectively so long as the rights holder places a digital lock on their content or device. Moreover, the digital lock approach is not limited to fair dealing - library provisions again include a requirement for digital copies to self-destruct within five days and distance learning teaching provisions require the destruction of materials 30 days after the course concludes. "

Like using your PVR? If this bill passes, it would effectively give the studios the right to delete programs from your PVR without your permission. Assuming they allowed you to record it in the first place.

Enjoy your privacy? Not anymore you won't. Internet Service Providers will be required to monitor your usage, and report suspected infringements. This includes handing over your personal info to the copyright holders in some cases.

January 31 (today!) is the final day to submit your feedback. The CCER has provided this handy form letter that you can personalize, and automatically send to Stephen Harper and the committee.

Graphic courtesy of The Canadian Coalition for Electronic Rights